LP-01Loops
Bowline
A fixed loop tied at the end of a rope that holds its size under load and still unties by hand afterward, even once it has been pulled tight. That combination is why it is often called the king of knots in sailing and rescue circles.
Reviewed 12/06/2026, first documented 19/12/2025
What it is
The bowline forms a fixed eye by tucking the rope's working end through a small loop, around the standing part, and back down through the same small loop. Structurally it is the same tuck used in a sheet bend, but performed with a single rope around its own standing part rather than joining a second rope.
How to tie it
- Make a small loop in the rope, leaving enough working end free for the size of eye needed.
- Pass the working end up through the small loop from underneath.
- Take the working end around the standing part of the rope, then back down through the small loop the same way it came up.
- Pull the standing part and the loop of the eye in opposite directions to seat the knot, checking that the working end sits alongside the standing part inside the eye rather than crossing it.
Where it can work loose
Under a steady load, a bowline is dependable. The known weak point shows up with light, repeated, cyclic loading and slack, such as a mooring line that goes taut and slack with every small wave, especially when tied in modern, slippery low-friction rope. In that situation the knot can gradually work itself loose over time. Sailors and riggers who need extra assurance in that scenario often add a stopper knot on the working end or tie a reinforced finish, sometimes called a Yosemite finish, that traces the working end back through the knot a second time.
Typical uses
It is a standard way to make a temporary fixed loop at the end of a mooring line, a towline, or a rescue line, wherever a loop is needed that must hold firmly yet be untied quickly afterward, including after it has taken a hard load and gotten wet. In climbing, the bowline was historically used to tie into a harness, and some climbers still favour a bowline variant for how easily it releases after a fall or in cold, wet conditions, though most modern climbing instruction favours the figure-eight loop instead.
Compared with the figure-eight loop
Both knots create a fixed loop, but climbers moved from one to the other for specific, practical reasons that the table below sets out.
| Knot | Easy to check by eye | Untying after a hard load | Common setting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowline | Moderate | Easy | Sailing, rescue lines |
| Figure-Eight Loop | High | Can jam tight | Climbing harness tie-in |
Common questions
Why is it called the king of knots?
The nickname reflects the combination of qualities sailors valued most: it holds a loop securely under a hard pull, yet can still be untied by hand afterward, which many equally strong loop knots cannot manage once loaded.
Is a bowline strong enough for climbing?
It can hold body weight, but most climbing instruction today favours the figure-eight loop because it is easier to inspect visually before trusting it with a fall, and it retains more of the rope's working strength.